Car-coupling



e. w. GlLL. CAR couPLlN.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8.19I9.

1,340,538. Patnted May 18,1920.

G. W. GILL.

CAR COUPLING. I APPLICATION msn mm1. m9.

Patented May 18, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` IN VE GEORGE w. GIEL, Aor BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

CAR-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented May 18,1920.

Appneation inea February 8, 1919. serial Nb. 275,886.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it lknown that I, GEORGE W. GILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain" new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the following description, taken in connection with the drawings, forms the specification, the principle of the invention being therein shown and the best mode I have devised for applying the saine in practice.

A characteristic feature oi the Invention lies in so constructing the various parts thatV the drawdiead and all operating elements will be self contained or intact, thereby ohviating special fixtures in its attachment to cars and resultant unsatisfactoryT service occasioned by varying conditions in cars to which the couplers are attached. l

An important object of the present invention is a means whereby its knuckle may be released from the locking mechanism in its drawhead when connected with a knuckle of another car in making a running switch, and when the cars are separated leave said unlocked knuckle in position to re--couple Another object is to construct a coupler so that the knuckle canalways be released to connect with an opposite coupler nlthout resorting to pulling said knuckle open with the hands. Another object of the invention is to construct certain of the operative parts with such interchangeability that a novice of ordinary intelligence can assemble the same without error or confusion.

so construct the knuckle-operating mechanism that the knuckle may be readily .released whether during slack or pulling strain; whereby the mechanism will not be subject to lfoul from snow, sleet or other foreign elements; be compact, durable, positive embodiment of the coupler with the knuckle closed. y

Fig. 2 is a front end elevation with the knuckle closed. A

Fig. 3, is a broken plan view of Fig. 2 on the line a.

Fig. el isa broken plan View similar to Fig. 3 andV shows the knuckle unlocked.

Fig. 5 is a broken plan view similar to Fig. 3 with the knuckle unlocked and the locking slide set to permit the knuckle to open and release an interlocked knuckle of a car shunted at a distance from an operative.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional side elevation on the line x-x of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is alongitudinal sectional side elevation with the locking slide in a rearward position, as in Fig. 5 to permit the knuckle to open. f l

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the locking slide.

Fig. 9 isa perspective view of the lockv ing weight. i

Fig. l0 is another form of my improved car coupler inlongitudinal plan section with the knuckle closed and the operating lever in position preparatory to reacting the locking slide and operating the knuckle-thrower to open the knuckle. t

Fig. 1l is a longitudinal plan section with the operating lever in position after having reacted the locking slide an'dvoperating the knuckler-thrower to open the knuckle, the dotted lines showing the knuckle at its eX- treme opening or throw. Still another object of the invention is to Fig. l2 is` an enlarged perspective view of the knuckle-throwing lever. lLike marks ofreference refer to corre spending parts throughout the different` views in which A represents a draw-head having the guard arm l, a longitudinally` formed rectangular mouth opening 2, a cutaway recess 3 in which the knuckle tail 4 is adapted to oscillate, and a transverselyformed slot 5 through whichv the reduced end of the locking slide lever 9 kmay be operated. l

The drawhead Aand its knuckle B are designed to permit the operation of the coupler with those in general use, the coupler differing only to the rear of the knuckle` and guard arm to permit the application and operation of my improvements.

The knuckle-locking slide T is rectangir lar in cross section and is formed with arcshaped ends. Preferably the slide is formed somewhat Wider in one dimension so that no error can be made in placing the slide Within the mouth opening 2 of the drawhead, its arc-shaped ends lying transversely when in operative position to permit the rounded end of the knuckle tail 4lto readily react` push in and pass said slide when the knuckle is turned inwardly. The slide i' is formed with a longitudinal transverse slot S through which the point of the operating lever 9y may play. The faces of the slideI designated as its top and bottom have oppo-A sitely-disposed slots 10 into which an oilierA ating latch 1l may Work. s will be chf ous, this slide may be inserted into the mouth 2 of the draw-head either' end to or either side up and perform the function of its office perfectly.

Below the draw-head a boss l1 is formed, the same having a cylindrical-shaped opening l2 communicating at its top with the` mouth 2 in the draw-head by a narrow slot 13, see Fig.' 7, in which the operating latch 11 Works, said latch operating on a pin 12 to the rear of the cylindrical opening and at or near its top, as shovvn. This latch is curved, its upper end operating Within the slot l() of the locking slide, its lower eX- tremity Working in a slot 13 of a, gravity Weight 14 loosely suspended on s aid latch in the cylindrical chamber l2. The Weight 14C by preference is formed so that it may be used either end to, so that no error can be made in its operation with the coupler,

ythis being accomplished by forming the slot 13 midway between the ends of the Weight, and that friction with the latch l1 may be considerably minimized the ends of the slot are rounded toward the ends of said Weight, shown, the lever being also curved to minimize friction in its action with the weight.

T he arrangement of the parts is such that the Weight will normally keep the lockingslide 7 forward Within the mouth 2 of the draw-head, the slide being moved rear- Wardly only by the closing of the knuckletail 4lor by means of the hand-operating lever 9, the operation of the latter being presently set forth. rlhe hand lever 9 is iattened, and pointed at its end entering the slot 5 of the d 'aW-heaa, and its outer extremity operate through a neck opening of a yoke l5, the latter of which is of Y- formation, the ends striking anY offset portion 16 of the draw-head and. receiving a verticallydisposed attaching pin 17. The attened portion of the lever is formed ivlith a ,longimav be rounded to more freel tudinally-disposed slot 18 through Which the pin 1'? passes, the slot being for the purpose of permitting the lever to Thave a slight longitudinal play.

In alinement With the slot 5 on the opposite side of the mouth opening` in the drawheid, a detent or gain 19 is formed (see Fig. 11 ivardly vand formed at its forward end to effeet a stop or shoulder for limitingthe movement of the lever 9 forwardly when thrust Within said detent. The officeV of the detent is primarily for the purpose of holding the locking-slide T at a position so that the tail el. of the knuckle may swing outwardly and permit the knuckle to unfold andV release an interlocked knuckle of another coupler when it is desired to push a car, as ona siding, and disconnect when reacted Without the presence of an attendant on the spot at `which the uncoupling is made.

In the preferred embodiment of my improved coupler I providea knuckle throWer C, consisting of a curved lever having a transversely-formed slot 2O throughivhich the reduced end of the operating lever 9 passes, the knuckle-thrower occupying a position Within the recessed portion of the draw-head in which the lever operates, it bcing held in position by the pin 17 -co-j ointly With said operating lever.

The knuckle-thrower is for the purpose of positioning the 4knuckle so that it will not require the opening of the same by .direct hand Contact, as is frequently the case with couplers as at present jdesigned, the. opening of the knuckle beingreadily and easily accomplished by grasping the lever 9 andmoving the same to the left (as indicated by the arrow in F ig. 9) with a quick action, said opening being effected by the outer tip of the knuckle-thrower C bearing against the rear side of the knuckle tail l. The slot 20 of the knuckle-thrower is sufficiently broad to permit the lever9 to havealimited movement before effecting the movement of said thrower. T he knuckle-thrower is also formed in such manner that -it may be employed either end to in its operation in the coupler.

VAs will be obvious, the Weight let inall instances `keeps the locking-slide i' 'forward in the mouth of the draw-head and the op-V cratmg lever 9 in position to Withdraw said locking-slide as occasion may require, the parts being so designed and arranged that the locking-slide lever and knuckle-throivcr will simultaneously act when moved to predetermined contacting position.

v From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it will be obvious that 1 have devised a car coupler that may be attached to any standard car Without especial fittings, be capable ofevery requirement expected of couplers and fulfill Such requirements Without question, obviate strenuous labor in uncoupling cars under load, and by means of gravity force insure positive operation of the knuckle lock in a simple and reliablel manner.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains, a more extended explanation of the invention and mode of operation is believed will not be necessary.

Having therefore set forth my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a car coupler, the combination with the draw-head having a pivotally-suspended knuckle opposite the guard arm thereof and formed with a longitudinally-arranged intermediate mouth opening, of a latch pivoted below said mouth opening andextending thereinto, a locking slide operative within said mouth-opening adapted to engage and release said knuckle and engaging with said latch, a weight suspended from said latch to movably hold said locking slide in a forward position within said mouth, said draw-head having a side slot intersecting said mouthopening thereof, and a lever pivotably movable in said slot for engaging said locking slide to release said knuckle.

Q. In a car coupler, the combination with the draw-head having a pivotally-suspended knuckle opposite the guard arm thereof and formed with a longitudinally-arranged intermediate mouth opening, said mouth opening having a chamber opening thereinto from below having a side slot, a curved latch pivoted within said slot, one end thereof eX- tending within said mouth opening, its opposite end extending within said chamber, a locking slide operative within said mouthopening adapted to engage and release said knuckle and engaging with said latch, a weight within said chamber'suspended from said latch to movably hold said locking slide in a forward position within said mouth, said draw-head having a side slot intersecting said mouth-opening thereof, said locking slide having a transversely-formed slot therethrough and a lever pivotally movable in said slot for engaging said locking slide to release said knuckle.

3. In a car coupler, the combination with the c raw-head having a pivotally-suspended knuckle opposite the guard. arm thereof and formed with a longitudinally-arranged in-v termediate mouth-opening, of a latch pivoted below and rearwardly of said mouth opening, a reversible locking-slide having convex outer ends operative within said mouth opening, said knuckle having a convex tail end, said slide adapted to close said mouth-opening and preclude said knuckle from opening when closed and to release said knuckle to open when reacted, the con- Vex Atail end of said knuckle when open mouth-opening adapted to bear against the convex outer end of said locking slide and push in andby said slide when moved to close, said drawhead having a side slot intersecting; said mouth-opening thereof, and a lever pivotally movable in said slot for engaging said locking slide to release said knuckle.

a. In a car coupler, the combination with the draw-head having a pivotally-suspended knuckle opposite the guard arm thereof and formed with a longitudinally-arranged intermediate mouth opening, of an interchangeable and reversible locking slide having convex ends operative within said mouth-opening, said slide adapted to close said mouth-opening and prevent said knuckle from opening when closed vand to release said knuckle to open when reacted, of a latch pivoted below said mouth-opening and extending thereinto, said latch engaging with said slide, a weight suspended from said latch to normally hold said slide within the exit of said mouth-opening, said draw-head havinga side slot intersecting said mouthopening thereof, and a lever pivotally movable in said slot for engaging said locking slide to release said knuckle.

5. In a car coupler, the lcombination with the draw-head having a pivotally-suspended knuckle opposite the guard arm thereof and formed with longitudinallv-arranged intermediate mouth portion, of a slide having reversible interchangeable convex ends operative within said mouth-opening, m vxans to yieldingly hold said slide forwardly in said g, said knuckle having convex tail end bearing against said slide when said knuckle is closed to prevent it from opening, said draw-head having a side slot intersecting said mouth-opening, and a detent alined with said slot in the side wall of said mouth-opening, a yoke pin-hingedto said draw-head, a lever having 'a slotv and slidably movable in said yoke about said hinge pin, said lever adapted to react said slide and releasev said knuckle to be opened when drawn on, said detent adapted'to engage `the point of said lever and temporarily hold said slide and permit saidk knuckle to open, substantially as set forth. l

6. In a car coupler, the combination with the draw-head having a pivotally-suspended knuckle opposite the guard arm thereof and formed with a longitudinally-arranged intermediate mouth-opening, of alocking slide having reversible and interchangeable convex ends operative within said mouth-opening, means to -yieldingly hold said slidey forwardly in said mouth-opening, said knuckle having a curved tail and bearing against said slide when said knuckle is closed to prevent it from opening, said draw-head having a side slot intersecting said mouth-opening, and a detent alined with said slot in the side Wall of said mouth-opening and having a shoulder and curved rearwardly, a lever slidably pinned to operate in said slot, the point thereof adapted to engage Within said detent, said lever adapted to react said slide and release said knuckle to be opened when drawn on and temporarily hold slide and permit said knuckle to open, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a car coupler, the combination with the draw-head having a pivotally-suspended knuckle opposite the guard arm thereof and formed with a longitudinally arranged intermediate mouth portion, of a locking slide having convex reversible and interchangeable ends and slotted from side to side longitudinally and formed with latch openings in its bottom and top sides, said slide operative Within said mouth-opening, said knuckle having its tail or inner end rounded and adapted to bear against said locking slide when said knuckle is closed, said draw-head having a side slot intersecting said mouth opening, and a detent alined with said slot in the opposite side Wall of said mouth-opening, a yoke pin-hinged to said draw-head, a lever having a reduced end slidably operative through both said yoke and said slot and adapted to pass in and through the slot in said locking slide and into said detent, said lever adapted to react said locking slide to release said knuckle and also to lock said slide to temporarily hold the same and permit said knuckle to open, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a car coupler, the combination with the draw-head having a pivotally-suspended knuckle opposite the guard arm thereof and formed with a longitudinally-arranged intermediate mouth-opening, of a locking slide operative Within said mouth-opening and arranged to bear against said knuckle to prevent its opening until reacted, said draw-head having a slot at the rear of said knuckle, a lever entering said slot and adapted to engage said locking slide, a knuckle-throiver fitted Within said slot and adapted to bear against said knuckle, a pin fitted through said draw-head and passing through said lever and knuckle-thrower, said lever adapted to vreact said locking slide to release said knuckle and to operate said knuckle-throiver subsequent` to reacting said looking slide, and means to normally keep said locking slide, lever and knuckle-thrower at an advanced position Within said draw-head.

9. In a car coupler, the combination with the draw-head having a pivotally-suspended knuckle opposite the guard arm thereof and formed with a longitudinally-arranged intermediate mouth-opening, of a locking slide'within said mouth openingarranged to" bar the outward movement-of said knuckle When said knuckle is closed, said dravvhead having a slot to the rear of said knuckleopening communicating with said mouth opening, a yoke fittedto said draw-head to the rear of said knuckle, a lever longitudinally slidable and having a reduced end passing through said yoke `and, into `said slot and engaging said locking slide, a knuckle-thrower positioned Within said slot about said lever, a pin passing through said yoke, lniuckle-throiver, lever and draw-heath pended knuckle opposite the guard armA thereof and formed With a longitudinallyarranged intermediate mouth-opening, of a locking slide Within said mouth-opening, said knuckle having a tail With a convex end, said locking slide having reversible interchangeable convex ends and adapted to bar the outward movement of said knuckle tail when said knuckle is closed, said locking slide having transversely-disposedslots longitudinally therethrough, said draw:-`

hcad having a slot in alinement With va slot in said locking slide, a yoke fitted to said draw-head at the rear of said knuckle, a lever having reduced end with a slot passing through saidrslot in said draw-head and engaging Within a slot of said locking slide, a knuckle-thrower positioned Within the slot of said draw-head about the reducedl end of said lever, a pin passing through said yoke, lniuckle-throiver, the slot in said lever and draw-head, said knuckle-throiver arranged to bear against the tail of said knuckle when said lever has moved said locking slide to clear said knuckle-tail and move said knuckle outward, and means to react said locking slide, lever and knucklethrower, substantially as and forl the purpose set forth. p

11. In a car coupler, the combination With a draw-head having a boss depending from its under side and formed with a cylindrical opening` and a rearwardly-slotted offset, a reversibly ended Weight having a central slot With rounded end Walls, and a latch pivotally suspended in said slotted offset and having a curved end engaging Within said slot, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a car coupler, the combination of a draw-head having a rectangular-shaped longitudinally-formed mouth-opening, Va adapted to press back and pass said locking locking slide having interchangeable and slide in the closing of said knuckle, sub- 10 reversible arc-shaped' ends and lcrmec1 with stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

an intermediate transverselyarrange slot and with cppositely-dispcsed latch open- GEORGE W' GILL ings, a knuckle having a tail extremity With VVitnesseS: v an arc-shaped end plvotecl t0 said draw- BERNIE W. WARD,

head :Lt one side of said mouth-opening and CARL A. SANDBERG. 

